Workers Reject Jakarta`s Minimum Wage at Rp3.9mn Set by Anies

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Labor Unions Confederation (KSPI) president Said Iqbal rejected the amount of provincial minimum wage (UMP) in 2019 set by Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan which was Rp3,940,973,06, considering the figure could not meet their monthly needs in the capital city.

Iqbal outlined the expenditure of a worker in a month, among others, three meals a day required Rp45,000 or Rp1,350,000 in a month; house rent, electricity and water bill at around Rp1,300,000; and transportation cost at Rp500,000.

“From the three categories, it costs Rp3.15 million. This is the fixed cost which cannot be revised,” said Iqbal in a written statement, today, Nov 1.

Subtracting from those needs, the rest of 2019 UMP amounted to Rp790,972, and so the worker could not have some left for other needs such as phone credit, clothes, education cost, and others.

Read: Anies Baswedan Sets Jakarta's Minimum Wage at Rp394mn 

Thus, Iqbal underlined, the workers stood still on their demand on the amount of UMP 2019 at Rp4.2 million, which was based on the calculation of the market survey on the standard living components (KHL) studied by Remuneration Board at Rp3.9 million.

However, the figure Rp3.9 million did not set based on the calculation on the inflation rate in 2019 considering the prices would likely increase next year. Therefore, Iqbal noted, the 2019 UMP should rise by 5.15 percent. “Or at around Rp4.2 million.”

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH